Best Dive Bar: Venice Tavern

The blog The City That Breeds once called this the dictionary definition of a dive bar, and CP’s Baynard Woods once wrote that Venice Tavern is “a bulwark against the brave new world” of $6 beers. Hell, we even gave it this award in 2011. Its dive credentials are well established at this point. Still, there’s something special about descending the stairs, seeing the low-hanging ceiling and pictures of old-timey boxers and FDR, pulling up to the bar, and having a cheap pint. There’s no such thing as a prototypical Baltimore corner bar, but somehow Venice Tavern embodies the best qualities of all them.